When do NBA Playoffs start? Key dates for NBA Playoffs schedule

NEW YORK, NY - MAY 23: Fans watch during the second half of Game 1 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series between the New York Knicks and the Atlanta Hawks on May 23, 2021 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Seth Wenig - Pool/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - MAY 23: Fans watch during the second half of Game 1 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series between the New York Knicks and the Atlanta Hawks on May 23, 2021 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Seth Wenig - Pool/Getty Images)

The 2022-23 NBA season has flown by and next month, the regular season will come to a close and playoffs will start. After coming up short of the play-in tournament last season, the New York Knicks are in a position to finish in the top six of the East to earn a playoff berth.

New York hasn’t advanced past the first round of the playoffs since the 2012-13 season, which is the only time in this decade that the Knicks have made it to the second round. That could change this year.

Here’s more information about the play-in tournament and the playoffs.

How Many Teams Make The NBA Playoffs 2023?

The top eight teams in each conference will make the NBA playoffs. The top six teams in the East and West will earn playoff berths while the No. 7-No. 10 seeds will compete in the play-in tournament for the No. 7 and No. 8 spots in each conference.

How do the NBA playoffs work? Everything you need to know

Here’s the NBA playoffs schedule:

  • April 15: Playoffs begin
  • May 1-2: Conference Semifinals begin (could be moved up to April 29-30)
  • May 16-17: Conference Finals begin (could be moved up to May 14-15)
  • June 1: NBA Finals Game 1
  • June 4: NBA Finals Game 2
  • June 7: NBA Finals Game 3
  • June 9: NBA Finals Game 4
  • June 12: NBA Finals Game 5 (if necessary)
  • June 15: NBA Finals Game 6 (if necessary)
  • June 18: NBA Finals Game 7 (if necessary)

After the first round of playoffs which will feature 16 teams, eight teams will advance to the Conference Semifinals. From there, four teams will advance to the Conference Finals. The Eastern and Western Conference Finals winners will face off in the NBA Finals.

When is the NBA Play-In Tournament? Rules, Teams, Location & How to Watch

The play-in tournament will start on April 11 and will end on April 14. The No. 7 and No. 8 teams in each conference will have two chances to win one game to earn a playoff berth. The No. 9 and No. 10 teams in each conference will have one chance to win one game to earn a playoff berth.

The No. 7 and No. 8 teams will play one another and the winner will be declared the No. 7 seed in the playoffs. The No. 9 and No. 10 teams will play one another and the loser will be eliminated. The No.9/No. 10 winner will go on to face the No.7/No. 8 loser and the winner of that game will be declared the No. 8 seed in the playoffs.

The teams and location of each play-in game won’t be revealed until the regular season comes to an end. Once that information is known, it will be added here.

How many teams make the NBA Play-In Tournament?

Four teams from each conference (eight total) make the play-in tournament. Four of those teams (two from each conference) will advance to the playoffs.